Sheet supporting member for music holder



Oct. 27, 1970 L. B. JOHNSTON 3,536,239

'srmm surromme MEMBER FOR MusIc HOLDER Filed Feb. 14, 1969 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 uumfimn'ununumnunu 000T """nil l n 'h. n" W" )1 fizz/6 m 5197' Lawrence liafomsw @ZM,QIM,W $3M Jigs- 7, 0 L. B. JOHNSTON 5,

SHEET SUPPORTING MEMBER FOR MUSIC HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 14, 1969 4;. a 28 -n: 32 84 f W 44 86 i I g 12 g .5 34 36 ii \i f 2 i 14 36 14 [7221678507 V Lawrence 5. I/Q'zybm I c gzjyi United States Patent Olfice 3,536,289 Patented Oct. 27, 1970 U.S. Cl. 248-443 17 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In a music holder of the type which is adapted to be mounted on a musical instrument, a supporting member is provided in the form of a generally rectangular rigid backing sheet provided with end walls having provision for receiving and retaining one or more elastic bands wrapped around the end walls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains generally to improvements in music holders which are adapted to be mounted on musical instruments. More particularly, it pertains to music holders of the type having a supporting member in the form of a flat rigid rectangular sheet on which a plurality of sheets of music may be hingedly supported, either in the form of paper sheets or, as is now more commonly the case, in the form of transparent sheetprotecting envelopes adapted to hold paper sheets. The supporting member of a music holder of this type may be mounted to a musical instrument by means of a device, usually referred to as a lyre, having a clamping mechanism adapted to grasp and hold the supporting member and having means for attaching the clamping mechanism to a musical instrument, such as a clarinet.

In US. Pat. No. 2,915,849, issued Dec. 8, 1959, to Lawrence B. Johnston, the applicant herein, for a Music Holder, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention, there is disclosed a music holder of the foregoing type which has been widely accepted in the music industry, principally for use in marching bands. The paper sheets or sheet-protecting envelopes are tophinged to the upper margin of the flat rigid rectangular supporting member of the music holder. The supporting member has raised projections on the opposite surfaces thereof which are designed to cooperate with the clamping mechanism of a lyre to prevent the supporting member from tilting or slipping out of the clamping mechanism of the lyre.

The clamping mechanism of the lyre described in the above-identified patent comprises a face plate, which is adapted to engage one of the opposite surfaces of the supporting member of the music holder, and a pair of spring-actuated fingers, which are adapted to press against the other of the opposite surfaces. The face plate is provided with apertures which are adapted to receive the raised projections on the surface engaged by the face plate. In a copending application of Herbert L. Johnston, Ser. No. 703,633, filed Feb. 2, 1968, for a Music Holding Lyre for a Musical Instrument, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention, there is disclosed an improved lyre for similar use.

Certain heretofore unsolved problems have been experienced with prior music holders of the type to which this invention pertains. Under outdoor conditions, the lateral edges of the sheets of music are exposed to the wind, and it is a frequent occurrene for the paper sheets or sheet protecting envelopes to be rifiled or blown by the wind to the distraction of the band performer. Likewise, the sheets of music may be shaken by the movements of the band performer, particularly under the demands of present day fast-step marching band choreography, and, where sheet-protecting envelopes of the type having open lateral edges are used, it is not un common for the paper sheets to fall out of the sheetprotecting envelopes.

In the past, in order to alleviate such problems, band performers have wrapped rubber bands or other elastic bands around the sheets of music so as to hold the sheets of music against the flat rigid supporting member of the music holder. Such expedients have proved to be disadvantageous. In many band programs, the band performers find it necessary to turn rapidly back and forth among several sheets of music using only one hand while executing marching or dancing steps. The elastic bands make it difficult for the band performer to turn the sheets of music. Elastic bands which have been wrapped vertically around the sheets of music must be removed before the sheets of music can be turned. Elastic bands which have been wrapped horizontally around the sheets of music may be left in place as the sheets of music are turned, but it remains difiicult for the band performer to insert one or more sheets of music beneath the elastic bands, or to Withdraw one or more sheets of music from SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide improvements in a music holder of the aforementioned type whereby the lateral edges of the sheets of music are shielded from the Wind, whether they are disposed on the front or back of the sheet supporting member.

Similarly, it is another object of this invention to provide improvements in a music holder of the aforementioned type whereby provision is made for one or more elastic bands to be wrapped around the sheets of music against the supporting member of the music holder while yet permitting one or more sheets of music to be inserted beneath or withdrawn from beneath the elastic bands without difficulty.

In accordance with the principles of this invention, the foregoing objects may be attained in a music holder comprising an improved supporting member, in the form of a generally rectangular rigid backing portion, or sheet, having vertical end walls preferably formed so as to be integral with the backing portion of the supporting member along the respective lateral edges of the supporting member. The end walls serve to shield the lateral edges of sheets of music from the wind and tend to prevent sheets of music from sliding out of their supporting envelopes. The end walls also permit one or more elastic bands to be wrapped around the sheets of music in such a manner as to space the respective elastic bands from the backing portion of the supporting member for the sheets of music. As a result, while the elastic bands are in position to hold the sheets of music against the supporting member, one or more sheets of music yet may be inserted beneath the elastic bands or withdrawn from beneath the elastic bands without difliculty. Preferably, lower end portions of the end walls are cut away to provide access to the lower side edges of the sheets of music or envelopes for sheets of music, for turning them about their hinged connections.

It is contemplated that a lyre of known design may be used to mount the supporting member to a musical instrument, such as a clarinet, and that raised projections may be provided on the supporting member to cooperate with the clamping mechanism of the lyre. In that instance,

upper edge portions of the raised projections preferably are bevelled to facilitate the insertion of one or more sheets of music beneath the elastic bands. Of course, other means may be used -to mount the supporting member to a musical instrument.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will be evident from the following description, with the aid of the attached drawings, of the presently preferred embodiment of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a music holder embodying the principles of this invention, the supporting member and a plurality of sheet-protecting envelopes hingedly support on the supporting member being shown in full and a lyre to be used to mount the supporting member to a musical instrument being shown fragmentarily;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the supporting member with the sheet-protecting envelopes removed;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view, similar to FIG. 2 but taken from the opposite side (which may be considered the back side) of the supporting member;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged edge view of the supporting member and the sheet-protecting envelopes, with the lyre omitted and with the envelopes slightly fanned out from their usual position of rest in order to be more easily distinguished; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the supporting member, showing one of the sheet-protecting envelopes being inserted beneath an elastic band wrapped around the end walls of the supporting member, with the lyre omitted.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawings, there is shown a music holder, indicated generally at 10, constituting the presently preferred embodiment of this invention. The music holder is characterized by an improved supporting member, indicated generally at 12, on which a plurality of openedended, transparent, sheet-protecting envelopes 14 are hingedly supported adjacent the upper portion of the supporting member 12. Each of the sheet-protecting envelopes 14 is folded from a single sheet of suitably thin transparent material in such a manner as to have closed top and bottom edges and open lateral edges. The sheetprotecting envelopes 14 are adapted to hold paper sheets of music (not shown) so as to display music on each side, as is known. As shown, holes are punched in the sheet-protecting envelopes 14, near their top edges, to receive hinge means to be described hereinafter.

A lyre 16, which preferably is constructed in accordance with the teachings of the aforementioned patent application, is shown in FIGS. 1-3. The lyre 16 serves to mount the supporting member 12 to a musical instrument such as a clarinet (not shown). The lyre 16 has a shaft 17 and a clamping mechanism 18 adapted to restrain the supporting member 12 from separating movement relative to the clamping mechanism 18. Shaft 17 is adapted to be connected in a known manner (not shown) with the musical instrument. As shown, the clamping mechanism 18 comprises a back gripping member 20, which has a gripping portion 22 and an extension 24 having a socket for the shaft 17, and a front gripping member 26 which has a gripping portion 28 and a handle portion 30. The gripping portions 22 and 26 have pivotal movement relative to each other and are spring-biased toward each other by reason of springs 31. Details of the construction of the lyre 16 are not needed for an understanding of this invention and may be found by reference to the aforementioned copending patent application. For present purposes, it is sufficient to understand that the clamping mechanism 18 may be opened for insertion or removal of the supporting member 12 4 by pivotal movement of the handle portion 30 toward the extension portion 24. It should be understood that other means may be used to mount the supporting member 12 to a musical instrument.

The supporting member 12, which may be made of molded plastic or other suitable material, is in the form of a generally rectangular, rigid backing portion 13, or sheet, and, has raised projections 32 and 34 on one generally flat surface 36 which may be considered the front side, similar raised projections 38 and 40 on the other generally flat surface 42 (the backside), and additional projecting means 44 extending downwardly from the lower edge 46 of the backing portion 13. The raised projections 32-34 and 38-40 and the additional projecting means 44 cooperate with the clamping mechanism 18 of the lyre 16, as is set forth in detail in the aforementioned copending patent application, to prevent the supporting member 12 from tilting or slipping out of the clamping mechanism 18 of the lyre 16. For present purposes, the relative positions of the raised projections 32-34 and 38-40 should be noted. The raised projections 34 and 40 are opposite each other at the lower edge 46 of the backing portion 13 of the supporting member 12. The raised projections 32 and 38 are opposite each other, outwardly of the raised projections 34 and 40, but are spaced from the lower edge 46 of the supporting member 12.

The supporting member 21 is provided with a series of spaced openings 50 in the upper margin 48. Two of the openings (indicated at 50') are enlarged to permit a pair of conventional hinge rings 52 to be used to hingedly support the sheet-protecting envelopes 14 on the supporting member 12. Alternatively, the series of openings 50 permit a conventional spiral or comb-type hinge or the like (not shown) to be used in place of the hinge rings 52. Preferably the walls and 62 are integral with the backing portion 13. The supporting member 12 has end wall structures 60 and 62, the former wall structure 60 extending along at least a portion of one lateral edge 64 of the backing portion 13 of the supporting member 12, and the latter wall structure 62 extending along the other lateral edge 66 of the backing portion 13. Preferably, the end wall structures 60 and 62 are formed in one piece with the backing portion 13 of the supporting member 12. The end wall structure 60 comprises an end wall 68 (FIG. 4) projecting perpendicularly from the one generally flat surface 36 of the supporting member 12 and an end wall 70 projecting perpendicularly from the opposite generally flat surface 42 of the supporting member 12. The end wall structure 62 similarly comprises an end wall 72 projecting perpendicularly from the surface 36 and an end wall 74 projecting perpendicularly from the surface 42. The end Wall 68 is shown to be continuous with the end Wall 70, as is evident from FIGS. 1 and 5, and, similarly, the end wall 72 is continuous with the end wall 74. The end walls 68 and 70 and the end walls 72 and 74 are in closely spaced parallel relation to the respective lateral edges of the sheet-protecting envelopes 14, but do not extend as far down as do the envelopes 14, whereby access is provided to the lower side edges of the envelopes 14 to facilitate the movement of them by the users fingers.

Considered in end elevation, as in FIG. 4, the end walls 68 and 70 of the end wall structure 60 are tapered outwardly from respective upper end portions 76 and 78 to respective lower end portions 80 and 82, the upper end portions 76 and 78 being merged into the respective opposite generally flat surfaces 36 and 42 of the backing portion 13 of the supporting member 12 approximately at the upper edge 43 of the supporting member 12. Thus, the end walls 68 and 70 extend approximately to the upper edge 49 of the supporting member 12. As shown in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the end walls 68 and 70 extend substantially along the entire lateral edge 66 of the supporting member 12 but are cut away, or filleted, as at 84 and 86, such that the lower end portions 80 and 82 are spaced from the lower edge 46 of the supporting member 12, thereby making the lower edge portions of the envelopes 14 accessible to the users fingers. 1

As is evident from FIG. 4, the lower end portions 80 and 82 project from the respective opposite generally flat surfaces 36 and 42 of the supporting member 12 substantially farther than the raised projections 32-34 and 38- 40. It will be understood that the end walls 72 and 74 of the end wall structure 62 have similar configurations and locations.

Each of the end walls 68, 70, 72 and 74 has a like number of spaced grooves therein, three being the preferred number in each, although one or more may be usde. The grooves in the end wall 68 are indicated at 90, 90 and 90", respectively, and the grooves in the end wall 70 are indicated at 92, '92 and 92'' respectively Similarly, the grooves in the end wall 72 are indicated at 94, 94' and 94", respectively, and the grooves in the end wall 74 are indicated at 96, 96' and 96", respectively. The grooves 90, 92, 94 and 96 are aligned with each other and are equidistant from the upper edge 49 of the supporting member 12. The grooves 90'-96' and 90"-96" are aligned in analogous manner, as is evident from the drawings.

Each of the respective sets of four aligned grooves in the end Walls 68, 70, 72 and 74 and is adapted to receive a rubber band or other elastic band which has been wrapped horizontally around the four end Walls. In FIG. 5, an elastic band 100 is shown as having been wrapped horizontally around the four end Walls 6874 and received in the grooves 90, 92, 94 and 96. It will be understood that the elastic band 100 could be used also in the grooves 90', 92', 94 and 96' or in the grooves 90", 92", 94" and 96". Also, if desired, another elastic band (not shown) may be wrapped horizontally around the four end walls so as to be received by the grooves 90', 92', 94' and 96 and yet another elastic band (not shown) may be wrapped horizontally around the four end walls so as to be received by the grooves 90", 92", 94" and 96".

Because the end walls 68, 70, 72 and 74 are tapered, their grooves space the elastic band (or hands) 100 from the backing portion 13 of the supporting member 12 by differing amounts to accommodate difi'erent numbers of sheet protecting envelopes 14. As a result, while the elastic band 100 is sufiiciently close to, or may engage, the sheet-protecting envelopes 14 to hold the sheetprotecting envelopes 14 against the supporting member 12, one or more of the sheet-protecting envelopes 14 yet may be inserted beneath the elastic band 100, or withdrawn from beneath the elastic band 100, without difficulty. FIG. shows one of the sheet-protecting envelopes 14 being inserted beneath the elastic band 100.

The aforementioned taper of the end walls 68 and 70 of the end wall structure 60, and of the end walls 72 and 74 of the end Wall structure 62, progressively increases the spaces between the elastic bands and the 0pposite generally fiat surfaces 36 and 42, from the uppermost grooves 90-96", With the result that the engagement of the lower portions of the sheet protecting envelopes 14 with the raised projections 32-34 and 38-40, and with the clamping portion 18 of the lyre 16, does not hamper the insertion or withdrawal of one or more of the sheet-protecting envelopes 14. As shown, upper edge portions 110 of the raised projections 32 and upper edge portions 112 of the raised projections 38 are bevelled to facilitate the passage of the sheet-protecting envelopes 14 beneath the elastic band (or bands) 100 and across the raised projections 32 and 38. The manner in which the end walls 68, 70, 72 and 74 are cut away or filleted, as at 84 and 86, permits the lower corners of the outermost of the sheet-protecting envelopes 14 to be reached readily by the band performer, using one hand, and pushed at least partly from beneath the elastic band (or bands) 100.

Inasmuch as the elastic band (or bands) 100 holds the sheet-protecting envelopes 14 against the supporting member 12, the sheet-protecting envelopes 14 are prevented from being rifiled or blown by the wind and from being shaken by the movements of the band performer. Likewise, the paper sheets of music (not shown) are prevented from falling out of the open lateral edges of the sheetprotecting envelopes 14.

From the foregoing description of the end walls 68, 72 and 74, it is evident that the elastic band (or hands), 100 may be omitted in some instances, particularly if fast-step marching or dancing steps are not required. Inasmuch as the end walls 68 and 70 of the end wall structure 60 and the end walls 72 and 74 of the end wall structure 62 extend along substantially the entire lateral edges 64 and 66 of the supporting member 12, in closely spaced parallel relation to the lateral edges of the sheetprotecting envelopes 14, and inasmuch as the lower end portions and '82 of the end walls 68 and 70 and the corresponding lower end portions (not numbered) of the end walls 72 and 74 project from the respective opposite generally flat surfaces 36 and 42 of the supporting member 12 substantially farther than the raised projections 32-34 and 3840, the lateral edges of the sheet-projecting envelopes 14 on the side facing the band performer are shielded from the wind so long as the musical instrument is held with the music holder 10 either in a vertical position or tilted somewhat away from the band performer.

It is contemplated that numerous modifications within the scope of this invention will be suggested by the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the scope of this invention should be determined from the following claims. Where, in the claims, the word sheets is used, it is intended to refer either to the sheets them selves or to envelopes which are adapted to carry such sheets.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved sheet supporting member for a music holder of the type which is adapted to be supported from a musical instrument and to have sheets of music hingedly connected to the upper margin of the supporting member, comprising a flat backing portion having front and back sides against which the hinged sheets may rest, and vertical end Walls along at least a part of the respective lateral edges of the backing portion, said end wall structures projecting generally perpendicularly from both the front and back surfaces of the backing portion.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the end wall structures parallel the vertical edges of the sheets but do not extent as far down as the sheets, whereby access to the lower portion of the edges of the sheets are provided.

3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said end walls extend along substantially the entire lateral edges of said backing portion.

4. The improvement of claim 3 wherein said lower end portions of said end walls are spaced from the lower edge of said backing portion.

5. The improvement of claim 3 wherein said end walls have upper and lower end portions and are tapered outwardly from said upper end portions to said lower end portions.

6. The improvement of claim 5 wherein said upper end portions of said end walls are merged into the opposite surfaces of said backing portion approximately at the upper edge of said supporting member.

7. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said backing portion has raised projections on the opposite surfaces thereof and at least portions of said end walls project from the opposite surfaces of said backing portion substantially farther than said raised projections.

8. The improvement of claim 7 wherein the upper edges of the raised projections are bevelled outwardly and downwardly from the backing portion.

9. The improvement of claim 1 wherein each of said end walls has at least one groove adapted to receive an elastic band wrapped around said end walls.

10. The improvement of claim 9 wherein the end walls parallel the vertical edges of the sheets but do not extend as far down as do the sheets, whereby access to the lower portion of the edges is provided.

11. The improvement of claim 9 wherein said end walls have upper and lower end portions and said lower end portions are spaced from the lower edge of said backing portion.

12. The improvement of claim 9 wherein said end walls have upper and lower end portions and are tapered outwardly from said upper end portions to said lower end portions.

13. The improvement of claim 9 wherein said end walls have upper and lower end portions and said backing portion has raised projections on the opposite surfaces thereof, said lower end portions of said end walls projecting from the opposite surfaces of said supporting member farther than said raised projections.

14. The improvement of claim 9 wherein said supporting member has raised projections on the opposite surfaces thereof and upper edge portions of said raised projections are bevelled to facilitate insertion of one or more sheets of music beneath an elastic band wrapped around said end walls and received in said grooves.

15. The improvement of claim 14 wherein said end walls have upper and lower end portions and said lower end portions project from the opposite surfaces of said supporting member farther than said raised projections.

16. The improvement of claim 9 wherein each of said end walls has a plurality of grooves which are adapted to receive an elastic band, with the grooves being disposed so as to space the band differing distances from the backing portion.

17. The improvement of claim 16 wherein the grooves of the end walls are horizontally aligned in sets.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 551,256 12/1895 Brown 24845 1 1,872,911 8/1932 Draxler 248451 1,894,5'59 1/1933 Fisher 248444 2,643,774 6/ 1953 Patterson et al 21 145 2,915,849 12/ 1959 Johnston 248443 3,227,414 l/1966 Dean 248443 3,339,875 9/1967 Gerald 248452 MARION PARSONS, JR., Primary Examiner 

